Intra- and intergenerational costs of handicapping in the Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola), a thraupid with delayed plumage maturation.

ABSTRACT: Life history theory posits negative trade-offs between current reproduction and survival and between current and future reproduction. We tested if the Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola), a sexually dichromatic thraupid with age-related plumage coloration, conforms to the expectations under this theory. Previous studies in nest-box systems have shown that both drab young males and bright-yellow older males provide similar parental care and achieve comparable reproductive success. We experimentally handicapped females and males from both age classes by clipping of three primary remiges to manipulate their parental care efforts. We compared mating pairs conformed by handicapped males of both age classes paired with non-handicapped females, handicapped females paired with either handicapped or n

SUBMITTER: Palmerio AG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12431269 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature